title: Spinal cord metabolism and muscle water diffusion in whiplash.
abstract: METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To quantify spinal cord metabolites and neck muscle fast and slow water diffusion in a small sample of patients with chronic whiplash and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In five subjects with chronic whiplash and seven controls, we performed magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the cervical spinal cord and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the cervical multifidus muscle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant reductions in N-acetylaspartate/creatine ratios were found in subjects with chronic whiplash when compared with healthy controls (P = 0.02). Significantly higher fast apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were found in chronic whiplash when compared with the healthy controls (P = 0.01). There was no difference in slow ADCs between the two groups (P = 0.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The potential value of MRS and DWI to quantify the presence of neuromuscular degeneration as a potential mechanism underlying chronic whiplash is recognized. Larger-scaled prospective studies are warranted and required.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. j-elliott@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Pedler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cowin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sterling
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McMahon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004058:Diffusion; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014867:Water